And without further ado, here is my early Christmas present, from me to you...

Sabine led the way at a full run, with Kanan, Zeb and Ezra following close behind her. She followed the markings on the walls showing the way to Bay 6. As she ran, she couldn't help the thought entering her mind that Mal Shrivus might possibly be part of this operation. And if he was, he very well might be waiting in Bay 6 for them.

As she had this thought, she paused at an intersection, as if uncertain where to go. But really, she was stalling, trying to think of what she could do if Shrivus was there. As she continued thinking on it, a cold presence entered her, stealing its way through her mind and body, bringing with it a realization of what could happen in the next few minutes.

The others came to a stop behind her. Ezra leaned his hand against the wall as he tried to catch his breath.

"Man, Sabine...I know we're trying to get there quickly, but...maybe we could go slightly less quickly?" He heaved a great breath and tried not to sound like he was dying, unsuccessfully.

Zeb laughed at him. "What, a great Jedi can't keep up with a girl? Hahah!" Ezra glowered at him, then saw Kanan. He was frowning and shaking his head. He felt his masters disappointment like a punch in the gut. It was all he could do to not let the tears of anger and embarrassment welling up inside him to flow down his face.

He felt his hand sliding down the wall and found himself crouched on the floor, head bowed. He took several deep breaths to calm himself. He remembered the words Kanan, and later Sabine, had stressed to him. From Kanan, "'You need to be with us, Ezra. Practicing. Focusing.'" From Sabine, "'If you love someone, you don't play around, and you don't goof off. You take every waking moment to Practice, and Focus,"'

Ezra realized it was a bit too late to practice, but it was never too late to focus, which was what he did now. He focused on the force, gaining peace as a reward, then he moved onto his friends.

He felt Zeb still enthused over the fact that Ezra was out of shape. He rolled his eyes and moved on to Kanan, and felt him also focusing back on Ezra. Ezra felt him smile in approval as Kanan realized what his apprentice was doing. Then Ezra felt something else in Kanan. He searched for a moment, and realized he was worried. Frowning, he felt deeper..

..he was worried for Sabine. Instantly, Ezra put all his focus on Sabine, which turned out to be a mistake. The near-panic internal pain she was feeling nearly blew Ezra over. His eyes flung open as he fell to the metal floor, sending a dull thud into the air. He grunted as his shoulder took the brunt of the fall. Kanan knelt beside him and helped him up. In doing so, he whispered in Ezra's ear.

"Was that Sabine?" Ezra nodded, eyes wide, swinging to focus on Sabine. As he did, he realized...

"...she's shaking Kanan. Something is terribly wrong." He tried to step forward to go to her, but Kanans hand stopped him. He continued whispering, "Be careful, Ezra. I feel there is much Sabine hasn't told us, and keeping those secrets is slowly killing her inside. She is stressed and panicked. Tread lightly, and watch what you say." Ezra nodded quickly and ran the few paces distance over to Sabine. He placed both his hands on her shoulders and took her a few steps away from Kanan and Zeb, into the shadows.

Kanan and Zeb took a few steps back into a corresponding hallway so they were out of ear shot but could still see them. Sabine yelled out at one moment, and Ezra quickly hugged her. Zeb frowned.

"Is now really the best time for those two to be doing lovey dovey stuff?" Kanan didn't bother turning to look at the Lasat as he responded. "Trust me Zeb, this is more important than you realize." Zeb grumbled but stayed alert, ears awake for any signs of bucket heads as he waited for Ezra and Sabine to finish...whatever they were doing.

***

Ezra nodded quickly to Kanan, then put him from his mind as he nearly ran the few paces to Sabine. Her back was to him, her arms wrapped around her midsection, attempting and failing at stopping the shaking. His heart broke to see her this way, and not know what was wrong or how to fix it.

He gently but firmly grabbed her shoulders and took her back a few paces, down a darker hall. She didn't resist, which concerned Ezra even more. He slowly spun her around until she was facing him. Still she didn't react. "Sabine?" He questioned hesitantly, wishing her helmet was off. He slowly reached out to take it off, and then Sabine finally reacted.

She threw her hands out and yelled, "No! It was an accident, I swear! Please, Batcko! NO!" She went to lunge at Ezra, but instead of stepping back and fighting her, he stepped forward and wrapped his powerful arms around her, pinning her arms to her sides. As she struggled, he put his head next to her helmet and whispered, "Sabine! It's me, Ezra. Easy, no one wants to hurt you. Easy," he murmured.

Sabine stopped fighting him and shook her head slightly. "Ezra?" She whispered. He felt her arms move again and this time he let hers escape, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Oh, Ezra," she said brokenly, and he felt her shoulders begin to shake.

Inwardly terrified, as he had never seen Sabine this distraught before, he held her tight, and let her sob quietly, having no idea how else to help her.

After a little bit, Sabine sniffed and stepped back from him. Ezra released her and they stood opposite each other. He reached his hand out and touched hers, feeling how icy cold it was through the glove. He rubbed it with his thumb as a million questions poured through his mind. Before he could fully think it through, one question slipped out.

"Are you alright?" He felt her indecision, and instinctively grabbed her other hand, squeezing them encouragingly. "It's ok, Sabine," he whispered. "You can tell me." She looked up at him, and he felt her come to a decision. She pulled her hands back slowly, then reached up to her helmet. She eased it off her head, and Ezra's heart broke at her puffy eyes and messy hair. He reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, marveling at how beautiful she still was even through the tears. She smiled up at him, and opened her mouth.

But before anything could come out, blaster bolts could be heard down the hall. Sabine closed her mouth and pulled her helmet back on, blasters seeming to appear in her hands. Ezra, thoroughly ticked off at the terrible timing from the storm troopers, ignited his lightsaber and peered around the corner. He saw Kanan and Zeb shooting back at roughly 20 troopers running down the hall. He looked beyond the troopers and saw a sign saying 'Bay 6, ➡️' and realized these were the troopers guarding the Shock 4. With a yell, he leapt into the air, intent on cutting down anyone who stood in his way.

Kanan felt his padawan move and ignited his own laser sword. Covered by blaster fire from Zeb and Sabine, he supported Ezra as they eliminated their enemy. They jumped and slashed and cut, stunning and knocking out when they could, killing when they couldn't. Finally, they got through all of them, and the Jedi paused a moment to survey the area.

Kanan, with his Force-enhanced hearing, was the first to hear it. "Their ship is firing up!" Ezra pointed towards the sign he had spotted earlier. "There!" He yelled, and the other three followed after him.

They rounded the corner into Bay 6, and stopped suddenly in their tracks. There must have been 50 storm troopers, all secreted behind crates, all with weapons trained on the Ghost crew. They were on the right and left of the encircled metal bay, with a large freighter in the center. As Kanan and crew watched, the freighter loaded a very, very large crate into its hold. And immediately Sabine knew.

"They've made the Death Wind."

Ezra glanced at her, eyes wide. "I thought you said you destroyed everything?!" She glanced at him.

"I did! But that was years ago! They must've figured it out again. And that must be what's in the crates. The Shock 4's"

"Ah, very good Mandalorian." A voice projected through the quiet of the dawn of the upcoming battle. Sabine glanced up sharply at the sound of the voice. A man, silhouetted by the sun, appeared on the top on the freighter.

"No," Sabine whispered, unconsciously taking a step back. She lowered the light through her helmets visor, and let out a gasp.

"Yes, Sabine, it is I. And you are you. With your pathetic, unknowing friends. Tell me, my dear, do they know who I am? No? Well then, let's start simple. Do You know, who I am?"

The freighter had shut off. Not a bird was in the open sky, and not a storm trooper dared to move. It was as if all of the planet Tysyion was holding its breath.

Sabine took a shuddering breath, fear blanketing her, reaching up to strangle her. She fought it, but with every heartbeat, she saw her family learning who she truly was. What she had done. The life she lived.

With these thoughts piercing through her head, she succumbed to the fear. Falling to her knees, she could only breath out two words.

"Mal Shrivus."

Stay tuned, rebels, for Part 4 👀🤩